The author analyzes the Anglo-Afghan wars of the 19th century as a factor in the development of images of Afghanistan and Afghans in English identity. The purpose of the article is to analyze wars as a factor in changes of Afghanistan and Afghans images in England. The author believes that the Anglo-Afghan wars, which led to the emergence of negative images of Afghans as ethnically, linguistically and religious Others in English political and ethnic identity, were the immediate impetus for the formation of Afghan images in English identity. If the first Anglo-Afghan war became an incentive for the formation of Afghan images, then the second war stimulated early stereotypes, the processes of novelization and visualization of Afghan images in British identity. The failure of the British troops in the region led to the formation of negative images of Afghanistan. The lack of real results inspired the further development of Afghan images, contributing to the genesis of the third Anglo-Afghan war. The author believes that after the second Anglo-Afghan Afghans were forced to passively watch the British attempts to achieve their political goals on their territory, imagined as a buffer zone between the British and Russian empires. It is assumed that the war stimulated the development of Afghan images in British identity as part of the formation and transformation of imperial identity.